Mechanism for separating the books of an interconnected book-pad



1936- o. KLEINSCHMIT ET AL 2,027,105

MECHANISM FOR 'SEPARATING THE BOOKS OF AN INTERCONNECTED BOOK PAD Filed Oct. 21, 1951 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 7, 1936. o. KLEINSCHMIT ET AL 2,027,105

MECHANISM FOR SEPARATING THE BOOKS OF AN INTERCONNECTED BOOK PAD Filed Oct. 21, 1931 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 7, 1936. o. KLElNSCHMlT ET AL MECHANISM FOR SEPARATING THE BOOKS OF AN INTERCONNECTED BOOK PAD 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 21, 1931 EZI J9 16 L and Onfnar fidifer' y wymg sa fitter r.

Jan. 7, 1936. o. KLEINSCHMIT ET AL 2,027,105

MECHANISM FOR SEPARATING THE BOOKS OF AN INTERCONNECTED BOOK PAD Filed 0G1 21, 1931 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 7, 1936. o. KLEINSCHMIT El AL 2,027,105

MECHANISM FOR SEPARATING THE BOOKS OF AN INTERCONNECTED BOOK PAD Filed Oct. 21, 1931 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 2; Mm fans,-

ail/ r Jan. 7, 1936. o. KLEINSCHMIT ET AL 2,027,105

MECHANISM FOR SEPARATING THE BOOKS OF AN INTERCONNECTED BOOK PAD Jan. 7, 1936- o. KLEINSCHMIT ET AL 2,027,105

MECHANISM FOR SEPARATING THE BOOKS OF AN INTERCONNECTED BO OK PAD 12 Sheet-Sheet 7 Filed Oct. 21, 1931 a d OJA-ar i327 1936- 0. KLEINSCHMIT ET AL 2,027,105

v MECHANISM FOR SEPARATING THE BOOKS AN INTERCONNECTED BOOK PAD Filed 001;. 21, 1931 l2 Sheets-Sheet 8 Jan 7, 1936. O.-KL EINSCHMIT El AL- 2,027,105

MECHANISM FOR SEPARATING THE BOOKS OF AN INTERCONNECTED BOOK PAD Filed Oct. 21,1931 12 sheets' sheet 9 'mveutqks 05cm; KLEINSCHMIT QsKAR MULLER ATTORNEY Jan. 7, 1936- ONKLEINSCHMIT ET AL MECHANISM FOR SEPARATING THE BOOKS OF AN INTERCONNECTED BOOK PAD Filed Oct. 21, 1951 12 Sheets-Sheet l0 05 KA R M U L a. E. R BY 4;

ATTDIPNEJ" 1936- o. KLEINSCHMIT ET AL 2,027,105

MECHANISM FOR SEPARATING THE BOOKS OF AN INTERCONNECTED BOOK PAD Filed Oct. 21, 1951 12 Sheets-Sheet 11 85cm pusmscnmn SKAR ULLER by M fiawwfl bm ATTORNEY Jan. 7, 1936- o. KLEINSCHMIT ETAL 2,027,105

MEGHANIM FOR SEPARATING THE BOOKS OF AN INTERCONNECTED BOOK PAD Filed Oct. 21, 1931 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 55 INVENTORS OscAR KLElNSoHMIT OsKAR MULLER BY W (BMJKH- ,u-roRlvzy Patented Jan. 7, 1936 I GPA-TENT- OFFICE MECHANISM FOR SEFARATING THE BOOKS OF AN INTERCONN EGTED BOOK-PAD Oscar Kleinschmit and Oskar Muller, Leipzig- Plagwitz, Germany, asslgnors to Gebruder Brehmer, Leipzig-Plagwltz, Germany, a limited partnership of Germany Application October 21, 1931, Serial No. 570,246

In Germany November 25,1930

21 Claims. (01. 112-21) Thepresent invention relates to the separation,

by mechanical means, of individual books from an inter-connected book-pad and is more par-'- ticularly concerned withthe mechanical separation of books, during or after the binding there-.

' of, from a stitched book-pad to which a backing strip or strips has or have been stitched or otherwise secured.

The separation of books from a stitched bookgrooved, betweeneach two completely stitched books during the formation of the book-pad,'a nd then to draw a knife, by hand, along each groove and so sever the interconnecting means between the adjacent books. The insertion of the section blocks serves to space apart, at regular intervals, the completed books and so determines. the length of backing strip which is left to overlap the outer cover of each book, when the latter is separated from the pad. Alternatively, the interconnecting threads are severed by mechanical means as described in the co-pending application of Rivlois and Miiller, Serial No. 501,128, filed December 9, 1930, andthe backing strip which has previously been looped in known manner between the books is severed by manually applied severing means.

According to this invention a method is provided for severing the backing material of an interconnected book-pad in a book-binding machine, whereby a severing member is mechanically contacted with the backing material and severs the latter in a movement transverse thereto.

In order to carry this method into effect, in one form of the invention mechanism is provided whereby the progress of the stitched book-pad from the stitching means is utilized to control the actuation of the mechanical severingsand book-separating means.

This severance of the interconnecting binding materials can be effected by means of a severing device which is operated with either a horizontal or vertical movement relatively to the book-pad and the device may be located in any convenient.

position adjacent to the book-pad. If the severing device is located in front of the advancing book-pad and in the path thereof, the above described section blocks or spacing blocks may be advantageously used to control the actuation of the device. When the severing device is 10- cated behind or away from the path 'of travel of the book-pad, an adjustable control such as a timing device of known type could be used to control the actuation of the device, or altematlvely the latter could be controlled, ina suitable manner, from means adapted to engage the idle stitch when such a stitch is provided between the adjacent books in the book-pad. It is also possible to utilize the tensioned backing strip, when the latter is severed, to actuate the controlling means. When any of the last dem scribed controlling means are used, the severonce may be effected by -means of a vertically movable severing device. In this case, the use of section blocks would not be necessary and the device could, if desired, be operated in an up- 1 ward direction from beneath the book-pad. Mechanism may be provided to enable the severing action to be performed by cutting blades adapted to act in the manner of guillotine blades or if desired rotary slitting knives could be in- 20 corporated in the device.

SeveralcOnstructional embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference. to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a book- 25 stitching machine of the swinging carrier type provided-with book-separating mechanism constructed according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the book-separating mechanism shown in Fig. 1. 30 Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view drawn to a larger scale of the means for coupling the book-separating mechanism and the swinging sheet' carrier, shown in another position of the operative movement thereof. 1 5

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the book-separating mechanism and sheet-carrier shown in a further operative position.

Fig. 5 is a plan view thereof.

Figs. 6 and 6a show details, drawn to a larger '40 scale, of the timing control arrangement for the mechanism.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of the severing mechanism and section-block trip-release.

Fig. 8, taken with Fig. 8a, is a side elevational 45 view of the stitching station of a book-stitching machine showing an alternative arrangement of the strip severing apparatus according to this invention together with its associated timing mechanism. 5

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view drawn to a larger scale of the alternative strip severing arrangement in a different operative position.

v Fig. 10 is a detail of the mechanism for actuating the curved strip-feeding blade. 55

Figs. 10a and 11 are enlarged detail views showing operative positions of thestrip retaining and feeding member forming part of the strip-severing apparatm.

Fig. 12 shows di-ticaly, in part sectional side elevation, a further embodiment of strip-severing mechanism constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail view, in section, of the severing arrangement shown in Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 shows, diagrammatically, a modified construction of the arrangement shown in Figs. 12 and 13, and

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view of a modified arrangement of the cutting device shown in Figs. 8 to 11. Like references throughout designate like parts of the mechanism.

Fig. 16 is a portion of Fig. 4 drawn in part section and to a larger scale to show more clearly certain features of the mechanism described in the specification and Fig. 17 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a front elevation of the machine shown in Figs. 8 and 8a.

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary side elevation similar to Figs. 8 andaa but viewed from the opposite side of the machine, showing the modified arrangement according to the alternative construction of Figs. 12 and 13.

Fig. 20 is an enlarged detail viewof part of Fig, 19.-

Fig. 21 is a similar view to Fig. 20 showing the modifications necessary for use with the alternative device as shown in Fig. 14.

Fig. 22 is an elevational view of the alternative arrangement shown in Fig. 15.

Referring to Fig. 1, a book-stitching machine of the swinging sheet-carrier type is shown, by way of example, equipped with the book-separating mechanism according to this invention. The side frames I and 2 of the machine serve to support pivotally mounted'arms 4 and 5 to which in the usual manner is attached a saddle shaped swinging sheet-carrier 6. The latter. member is shown, in Fig. 1, in its top or stitching position and supporting the folded sheet or book-section 59 beneath the stitcher head I. A combined needle guide and backing strip guide 11 is associated with the stitcher head and serves to position a backing strip 9 above the section 50 so that the stitches inserted in the said section pass through and attach firmly the book section to the backing strip 9 which is fed from the source of supply indicated'by the reference numeral 8. The backing strip 9 is suitably tensioned in the usual manner by the tensioning members l9 and II. The folded sheets or booksections are thus stitched and, together with the attached backing strip 9, are progressed forward along the usual supporting table or slideways in the form of a continuously stitched book-pad.

After the last sheet or section of each complete book is stitched, an idle or locking stitch is formed in known manner and a grooved section block 5| is inserted at this point of the continuous bookpad. The first section of the next book is then' fed by the swinging carrier and stitched, and the formation of the book-pad thus proceeds. The section blocks 5| are supported at their extremities on angle-iron runways or rails 5|a so that l the grooved upper faces of the section blocks are located immediately beneath the stitched backing strip 9.

A horizontal connecting rod 2| extends parallel to the book-pad trough or slideway and below thereof. The rod 2| is slidably mounted in a bearing bracket 49 fixed to the frame I and is periodically coupled at one extremity to the swinging carrier-arm 4 by means of a bolt I! which engages in a slot i4 provided in a flanged portion of the arm 4. The extremity of the rod 2| which carries the bolt I5 is U shaped to provide a suitable bearing for the said bolt |5 (Figs. 2 and 5) which is provided with a cam-faced flange or shoulder 20. A blade spring IS, anchored at one end to the rod 2| engages the shoulder 20 and urges the bolt I! when free to move into the.slot l4.

The coupling of the rod 2| and arm 4 must only be effected when it is desired to sever the backing strip, 1. e. after the complete assembly and stitching of each book and, therefore, a decoupling member having a wedge-shaped extremity is slidably mounted on the connecting rod 2| and adapted to engage the shouder 20 and normally hold the bolt I5 out of engagement with the slot l4. The member l'l can move relatively to the rod 2| and is influenced by a bellcrank lever l9 to which it is connected. The lever I9 is pivoted at 19 on the machine frame and is adapted to move about this pivot to reciprocate the de-coupling member ll intimed relation to the movement of the book-pad.

The other end of the connecting rod 2| is pijyotally connected to a lever 23 which is rigidly mounted on a pivot pin 25 Journalled in a supthe machine frame I. A second lever 24 is also rigidly mounted on the pivot pin 25 and thus partakes of the movement of the connecting rod 2|.

A severing member comprising a cutting blade 26 is fastened in a holder 21 (Figs. 2, 5 and 7) which is slidably mounted on guide rods 28, 28a extending above and transversely of the guideways 5|a and is provided with a pilot member 43 which serves to locate the cutting grooves of the section blocks to ensure the accurate engagement therein of he cutting blade 26. The blade-holder 21 is linked, by means of the rod 29, to the lever 24 and is thus traversed upon the guide rods 28,23a when the connecting rod 2| and arm 4 are coupled.

The slide rods28, 28a are mounted in cradles 30, 3| (Fig. 2) which are slidably held in bearing surfaces formed on the supporting arms 32, 33 which are supported by the machine frames and 2 respectively. The blade holder 21 and blade 26 can thus be pulled backwards against a suitable stop by means of spiral springs 82, 83 and are adapted to be carried forward a certain distance by the advancing section block during the severance of the backing strip and the return stroke of the severing device. The means for engaging the block for this purpose comprise two-armed levers 34, 35 which are plvotally mounted on the inner sides of the cradles 30, 3|.

As shown more clearly in Figs. 16 and 17, the forwardly extending arms of the levers 34, 35 are provided with lugs 34a, 35a respectively, adapted to engage and hold the section block, while the rearwardly extending arms of the levers 34, 35 carry cam-faced lugs 36, 31 respectively which project downwardly into the path of travel of the said section blocks. The levers 34, 35 are spring-controlled by the blade springs 38, 39 and, when rocked about their respective pivots, they remain in the position to which they have been tripped until engaged and rocked by further tripping members as hereinafter described.

Normally, the cam-faced lugs 88, 81 project into the path of travel of the section blocks and the section-block eng s s lugs 84a. 85a are raised therefrom.

A shaft 40 is also rotatably mounted in the cradles 80, 8| transversely of the section-block guides 5|a, and has mounted thereon two tripping levers 4|, 42 (Figs. 1, 2 and 7). The lever tending arm of the lever 35, while the lever 4|- engages the rearwardly extending arm of'the lever 34. A lug 44, downwardly projecting from the blade-holder 21, is adapted to engage the lever 42 at the end of the return stroke of the blade 26 after the cutting movement of the latter, and thus cause the said lever 42 to depress the rearwardly extending arm of the lever 85 and so rock the latter about its pivot to disengage, from the foremost section block 5|, the retaining lug 35a. It follows that, through the movement of the shaft 40, a similar action will take place between the members 4|, 84 and 840 so that the lugs 34a and 35a are simultaneously lifted at the right moment to release the section block 5| held thereby.

The automatic coupling orde-coupling of the connecting rod 2| and sheet-carrier 6 is controlled in the following manner. The second arm of the bell-crank lever I9 is slotted to receive a pivot pin 14 by which it is pivotally connected to a substantially vertical lever l8 which,-

at its lower extremity, is slotted to engage a further pivot pin 85 secured to the frameof the machine. The lever l8 which is free to move in any direction in its substantially vertical plane carriers, at its upper end, a finger 49 (Figs.

1, 3 and 4). The finger 49 is adapted to pass.

through either of the slots 13, 18 which are formed in the left-hand runway 5|a and connected by a throat or slit 13a through which the upper flange of the pin 49 cannot pass (see Figs. 6, 6a). A separate member 86, upon which is journalled a cam follower 45, is slidably mounted on the upper part of the lever l8 the two being linked together by a spiral spring 46 which tends to draw the member 86 down upon a stop provided on the lever l8 (Figs. 1 and 4). A camfaced block 41, supported by the bracket 48, is arranged to engage the follower roller 45 so that during the rearward movement of the lever |8 about the pivot 85 the member 86 is lifted and thus, if the lever I8 is held against lifting, the spring 45 is placedunder tension.

A shoulder or lug I5, adapted to engage during its rearward movement the lever I8, is secured to the connecting rod 2|. carrier arm 4 is provided with a curved guard member 12 the purpose of which will hereinafter be described.

During the normal stitching operation upon the book-sections constituting one book, the connecting rod remains de-coupled from the swinging carrier 6 and the finger 49 projects upwards through the slot 16 or resting its flange across the slit 13a.

The complete cycle of operation of the above described mechanism is as follows:

During the stitching of the book-pad and backing strip attached thereto, the section blocks 5| are inserted as above described and the bookpad together with the-interposed section blocks is progressed along the trough or siideway. The

The sheetstepped extremities of the sectionblocks travel along the runways Ila and, in due course, the foremost section block, 1. e., that placed in the book-pad after the first complete book, encouners the finger 48 projecting through the throat- 5 ed slot 19o formed in the left-hand runway 5|a as shown in the drawings. By the continued travel of the block 5| the finger 49 is pushed forward along the thr'oated slot Ila and finally registers with the slot l8. 10 Under the influence of its own weightthe lever l8 thereupon drops downwardly upon its pivot 85 and so withdraws the finger 49 from the slot 13 while the slide member 88 is drawn down to its stop by the spring 48. The downward l5 movement of the lever |8 turns the bell-crank lever I! about its pivot 19 so that the decoupling member I1 is drawn forward and releases the bolt l5 which, under the influence of the blade spring I. is caused to enter the het ro lugs 8412,1511 are tripped into the path of travel 30 of the section block which engages therewith and, in its travel, carries forward the slidably mounted cradles 38, 3| and the whole stripsevering mechanism supported thereby. Thus, during the whole of the movement of the strip severing member the strip severing mechanism remains registered with the section block.

The coupling of the connecting rod 2| with the sheet-carrier 6 is timed to take place when the latter has reached its top or stitching position, 40 as shown in Fig. 1, and to guard against the premature release of the bolt l5 before the slot has registered therewith, the guard 12 is provided. This member is arranged to withhold the bolt from its forward engaging movement until the slot I4 is correctly registered.

The subsequent idle movement of the sheet-carrier 6 draws the now coupled connecting rod 2| rearwards and the movement of the latter member, through the levers 23, 24 and 29 serves to move the strip separating device transversely across the book-pad from right to left, i. e. from the position shown in Fig. 2 tothat shown in Fig. 5. In this movement the pilot member 43 first enters the cutting groove of the section block now suitably positioned and so correctly guides the blade 26 in its cutting movement. By the movement of the latter across the section block, the backing strip, associated gauze and securing threads if need be, are completely severed at this point and the foremost book freed from the pad.

During the latter part of the rearward working stroke of the rod 2|,the projection or lug 15 carried thereon engages the lever I8 and rocks 5 the latter rearwards about the pivot 85. In this movement of the lever l8 the cam follower roller 45 carried by the slide member 86 is forced to follow the inclined face of the stationary cam block 41 and since the finger 49, which has by now been moved away from the slot 13, cannot move upwards through the throat 13a the spring 46 is placed under tension. At the end of the rearward travel of the rod 2|, the finger 49 reg-.

isters with the slot 15 and thereupon, urged by the spring 45, the-finger and lever I9 are lifted and the finger 49 passes through the slot I6. When the lever I8 is again moved forward slightly the narrow portion of the finger 49 moves into the throat 13a and, owing to the flanged upper portion of the finger 49 which cannot pass through the throat the lever I8 is held in the raised position. By the upward movement of the lever I8, the bell-crank lever I9 is again rocked to move the de-coupling member I! into position to engage the shoulder 29 of the bolt I5.

In the next feeding movement of the swinging sheet-carrier 6 the connecting rod 2I is reciprocated and through the linkage 23, 24 and 29 the strip severing device is returned to the righthand side of the trough as shown in .Fig. 2.

by, as above described, the block retaining lugs 34a, 35a are caused to release the block and allow the stitched pad to continue its progress. The

' cradles 39, 3'I are drawn backwards against their stops by the springs 82, 83 and thus the cycle of the strip severing operation is completed and the mechanism restored to await the engagement of the pin 49 by the next advancing section block.

In the above described embodiment the severance of the backing strip is effected after the stitching of the corresponding books and it has the advantage that the books are held together when passing along the trough of the machine after stitching. A further advantage of this method is that the books of the stack when progressed in the form of a stitched book-pad are submitted to an even and steady pressure which is desirable for the production of efilcient stitching. 4

However, it is sometimes desired, especially when idle stitches are not utilized between the stitched books of the book-pad, to dispense with the use of the section blocks when severing the backing strip and for this purpose, as is wellknown in the art, means are provided for looping the backing strip between each two books before severing the same by hand. In Figs. 8 to 14 of the appended drawings, means are shown for mechanically severing and lapping, without the use of section blocks or looping devices. the backing strips applied to a continuously stitched bookpad.

Referring to Figs. 8 to 11, in which one form of severing means is diagrammatically shown, the combined stitching-needle guide and strip guide I1 is adapted for this purpose by the provision of an auxiliary strip guide I2 and the formation of a transverse slot 55 in the face of the said strip guide 11. ported by a holder 52 is adapted to reciprocate in the said slot 55 and so sever the backing material 9 when desired.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 8a, taken together an auxiliary frame 99 is associated with the stitching machine indicated generally by the reference numeral 9I and serves to support the timing A strip severing blade 53 sup-v latter is retained in its operative position by a means of the screwed angle bracket I and is adapted to slide freely in its slideway so as to traverse the blade 53 in the slot 55.

The transverse movement of the members 52 and 53 is imparted thereto from a slide block I I3 slidably mounted .on guide rails H5, H6 which are supported at their extremities by a bearing bracket II4 secured to the machine frame and positioned so that one extremity thereof is adjacent the strip severing .device.

Two horizontal grooved pulleys H8, H9 are Journalled at either extremity of the bearing bracket II4 between the rails I I5, I I6 and are mutually aligned with a third grooved pulley I I9a positioned on the further side of the strip guide II.

A rope or wire cable which is secured at one extremity to the slide block H3, is passed round the pulley II8 then led to the pulley H9, passed round the latter and then through the guide member 11 where it is attached to the blade holder 52 and finally is led round the third pulley HM and so back to the slide block II3 to which the other extremity of the rope or cable is then secured. Thus when the slide block is moved along the guide rails H5, H6, reciprocatory movement is imparted to the blade holder 52 and blade 59.

The auxiliary strip guide I2 shaped as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is positioned closely'adjacent the curved face of the combined strip guide and needle guide TI and between the said curved face and the auxiliary strip guide I2 a curved stripfeeding and retaining blade 51 is adapted to move.

Two arms I89 (of which one is shown in Figs. 8 and 9) are pivoted to the frame of the stitching machine on the opposite sides thereof and serve to support a transverse bar I32 to which is secured, downwardly projecting therefrom, the strip-feeding blade 51. The latter, when moved is adapted to engage the backing strip 9 adjacent its free end and feed the said strip forward to its correct position of application to the back of the book.

The backing strip 9, as in the first described embodiment is fed from a source of supply indicated by the reference numeral 8 and is guided between the curved guide I2 and needle guide II to the requisite stitching position above the back of the book-pad.

In this construction, however, the strip tensioning means comprise a grid formed by a series of spaced transverse bars I39 and a strip tensioning bridge piece I42 which latter is carried by the arms I30.

The extremities of the bars I39 are slidably mounted in upper extensions of the machine frame and are resiliently linked ogether and also anchored by the tension spring or springs I49 to the machine frame as shown at I (Fig. 9).

A pair of shaped levers I35, one of which is shown in Figs. 8 and 9, are pivoted to the machine frame on the outside thereof and pass beneath the extremities of the uppermost bar I39 which extend outwards beyond the supporting frames. As shown in the drawings the bars I39 receive the backing strip as thelatterpasses from the source of supply 3 to the tensioning bridge I42. The 'levers I35 extend outwardly from the machine to engage the transverse bar I29 carried by the arms I30, while the backing strip extends downwardly from the tensioning arch I42 to thecombined needle guide and strip guide 11.- Stops I54 are provided on the machine frame to limit the downward movement of the levers I35.

The strip severing device and the strip feeding device are actuated from themachine drive by automatically timed mechanism in the following manner.

A cam-shaft 92 (Fig. 8a) is journalled in the auxiliary frame 90 and is provided with a bevel gear wheel 96. The main drive shaft 98 of the stitching machine is fitted with-a similar bevel gear wheel 99 and an inter-drive shaft I63 carries bevel gear wheels 91 and I which mesh auxiliary frame and carries the notched or slotted discs I02, I03 and I04. The shaft IOI is driven from the eccentric I41 by means of the bell-crank lever I49 pivoted to the auxiliary frame, a'pitman I50 linked at one extremity to one arm of the bell-crank lever I49 and a pawl lever I53 pivotally mounted on the shaft IM and linked to the otherextremity of the pitman I50. The other arm of the bell-crank lever I49 carries a cam follower adapted to engage the cam face of the eccentric I41. 4

The pawl lever I53 carries a pawl I48 adapted to engage the teeth of a ratchet wheel I60 fixedly mounted on the shaft IOI. A tension spring I5Ia secured to the arm I50 and anchored to other arm of the lever I05 is linked to a con necting rod I06 provided at its upper extremity with a recessed or slotted slide adapted to embrace the shaft IM and a lug I01 of requisite ize and shape to enter, when registered therewith, a slot I02a formed in the circumferential edge of the disc I02. An upwardly extending lever I09 rigidly mounted on the shaft I08 is linked by means of a connecting rod IIO to a pivotal lever III pivoted at its lower extremity on a pivot II.2 mounted in the frame of the machine 9|. The upper extremity of the pivotal lever I I I is bifurcated to engage a pin projecting from the slide block H3 and so reciprocates the said slide block when movement is imparted to the above described linkage by the cam eccentric 93. A spring I52 secured to the lever I09 and anchored to the auxiliary frame 90 pulls the lever I09 to the right (as viewed in Fig. 8a) when permitted by the timing mechanism to do so and so rocks the lever II I to actuate the strip severing device as above described and at the same time holds the cam' follower I05a in contact wtih the cam eccentric 93. It is obvious that the linkage will be held against movement, 1. e. against following the throw of the cam 93, until the lug I0I registers with the slot 102a of the revolving disc I02.

The above described strip tensioning devices are controlled from the timing mechanism by means of a two-armed lever I22 mounted on a pivotal stub shaft I24 journalled in the machine frame and having rigidly secured thereto a third lever I23 which is linked to an upwardly extending connecting rod I28 which latter is slotted at its upper extremity freely to engage the bar I29. One arm of the pivotal lever I22 carries a cam follower adapted to engage the eccentric 94 while the other arm thereof is linked to a slide bar I25 which is provided with a slotted slide member adapted to embrace the shaft IOI. The last mentioned slide member is formed with a locking lug I26 which engages when registered therewith in a slot I03a formed in the disc I03. A spiral spring I21 attached to the slide bar I25 and anchored to the auxiliary frame imparts. when permitted by the timing mechanism, an

upward movement to the arm I23 and connecting rod I28 which latter thus lifts the bar I29 to engage and lift the levers I30. When functloning in this manner the spring I2'I also urges against the eccentric 94 the cam follower of the lever I22.

The actuating means for the strip feeding and retaining blade member 51 comprises a twoarmed lever I43, mounted on a pivotal shaft I43a journalled in the auxiliary frame 90, having one arm provided with a cam follower I43b adapted to engage the cam eccentric 95. The other arm of the lever I43 is connected to a slide bar I44 which is provided with a slotted slide member adapted to embrace the shaft IM and carrying a lug or projection I6I which latter engages, when registered therewith, in a slot I04a formed in the circumferential face of the disc I04; A third arm I430 is rigidly mounted on the pivotal shaft M311. and extends to link with a connecting rod I46 which extends upwardly and is slotted at its upper extremity to engage the rod I29. An appropriate movement of the connecting rod I46 will rock the curved blade member 51' from the position shown in Fig. 9 to that shown in Fig. 8 and such movement is imparted to the said connecting rod by means of a spring I45 which is secured to the slide bar I44 and anchored to the auxiliary frame 90. The spring, when permtted by the timing mechanism to function, also urges the cam follower I43b into contact with the eccentric 95. I v

The operation of this embodiment of the invention is as follows:

During the stitching in known manner of the ister the slot I03a with the lug I26 carried on the slide bar I25 thus enabling the spring I2'I to func-' tion and so move the connecting rod I28 in an upward direction. The latter member engages the lower edges of its slot with the bar I 29 and so lifts the latter from the position shown in Fig. 8 to that shown in Fig. 9. The bar I29 is thus caused to engage the shaped levers I35 and move them upwardly about the pivot I30 and away from the stops I54. The curved portions of the levers I35 in turn engage the outwardly projecting extremities of the uppermost tensioning bar I39 and so lift these grid bars I39 against the the last mentioned eccentric the lug I26 is withdrawn from the slot I03a. Due to the lost motion connection provided by the slot in the extremity of the connecting rod I28, the levers I30 together with the bar I29 and the levers I35 remain in the position shown in Fig. 9, despite the descent of the rod I20, while by the continued rotation of the shaft IOI the slide bar I25 and rod I28 are again held by the edge of the disc I03 from further movement.

At this point of the operation the'eccentric I02 on the shaft IOI has been rotated sufficiently to register the slot I02a with the lug I01 mounted at the extremity of the connecting rod I06. By the entry of the lug I01 into the slot I02a the spring I52 is permitted to function so as to draw forward the slide block II3 on the guide rails H5, H6. The severing blade 53 is thus traversed in the groove 55 and so drawn across the backing strip 9 to sever the latter. Since the tension of the backing strip 9 has previously been released as above described, the severed end thereof leading down' from the supply 8 remains positioned between the curved guiding surface of the member 11 and the auxiliary guide I2 as shown in Fig. 10a.

The continued rotation of the eccentric 93 then restores the cutting blade 53 and the associated parts of the cutting device to the initial position. That is to say the blade 53 is given a complete reciprocatory movement while the lug I01 is withdrawn from the slot I02a and, by reason of the now continued movement of the disc I02, is held against the edge of the said disc.

By this continued rotation of the shaft IN the disc I04 is rotated sumciently to register the slot mm with the lug I6I carried by the slide bar I44 and so allow the said lug to enter the slot I04a whereby the spring I45 is permitted to function and so rock the crank-arm I43 about its pivot I43a, to pull the connecting rod. I46 downwards.

In the downward movement of the connecting rod I46, the upper edge of the slot formed therein engages the bar I29 and so moves the latter and the arms I30 in a downward direction (Fig. 8). The downwardly extending curved strip-feeding blade 51, secured to the bar I32 which latter is supported by the arms I30, is also moved downwardly to enter between the curved face of the strip guide 11 and the auxiliary guide I2. In the downward movement of the tensioning arch I42, which is supported by the arms I30; the backing material or strip is loosened and upon being engaged by the forward edge of the curved blade 51, is pushed between the guides 11 and I2 to the position shown in Fig. 11. In this position the strip is ready to receive the first section of the next book to be stitched and it will be plainly seen that the backing strip is suitably overlapped connection provided by the slotted extremity of the said rod I46 the bar I26, arms I30, bar. I32

and strip-feeding blade 51 remain in the position shown in Figs. 8 and 11. The lug I6I is also withdrawn by the rotation of the cam eccentric 93 and the shaft IOI during the now commenced stitching of the next book is further rotated and so locks the shaft I44 and conecting rod I46 against movement.

The member 51 remains in this position until the stitching of the last signature of the book now being formed and the above described cycle of operations is repeated.

In the last described embodiment the cutting blade 53 is shown disposed in the needle guide 11 but it will readily be appreciated by reference to Figs. 15 and 22 that, by a slight alteration of the arrangement of the mechanism, the severing blade 53 could be arranged to operate on the outside of the said needle guide.

In this construction the said needle guide and strip guide 11 is provided with a transverse groove on its curved undersurface and the auxiliary strip-guide I2 is slotted to permit the entry and operative movement of the severing blade 53 which is held by a carrier 52 slidably mounted on a transverse guide 520.. The actuating and timing mechanism is precisely similar to that above described in reference to Figs. 8 to 11.

Referring to Figs. 12, 13, 19 and 20, a further embodiment of the invention is diagrammatically illustrated.

The strip severing mechanism shown forms part of a machine similar to that shown in Fig. 8. In this construction the needle guide and strip guide 11 is slotted transversely thereof to form guide ways for a guillotine device G shown more clearly in Fig. 13. A curved auxiliary strip guide 58 is positioned adjacent the strip guiding face of the member 11 and is provided with a straight machined edge 66 extending transversely of the strip guide and forming one cutting edge of the guillotine G.

The last mentioned device comprising a horizontal transverse slide bar 60, provided with oblique slots 6i, 62, is mounted in the slotted guideway of the member 11 and is adapted to be reciprocated by the timed mechanism shown in Fig. 8. A guillotine cutting blade 65 is also positioned in the guideway of the member 11 and carries lugs 63, 64 which engage in the slots 6|, 62 respectively and the blade is guided to move in a vertical direction only. As in the second described embodiment the backing strip 9 is fed mechanically between the members 11 and 58 and so moves into position to receive the sections of the book about to be stitched, that is to say, the strip engaging and feeding member 51 is timed to engage and advance the strip as desired.

It will be obvious that when the slide bar 60 is moved from right to left (as viewed in Fig. 13) the blade 65, by reason of the movement of the lugs 63, 64 in the oblique slots 6|, 62, is forced downwards to engage between its cutting edge The mechanism I09, 0', III, together withthe rope II1, pulleys H9, H9 and H911 and slide block H3, are replaced by a lever IIIb secured -to the shaft I09 and therefore operated by the cam mechanism 93, I05 and I05a. This lever is connected by a rod Illa to-one arm'of a bell crank lever I90, the other arm of which is connected by a link -I9I to a further .two-arm lever I92 which moves the downwardly'projecting lug I93 of the slide bar 50.; The fulcrums of the lever I92 and the bell crank lever I90 are both formed in a bracket I94 secured to the main frame 9| of the stitching machine. The operation of the previously describedcam mechanism 93, I05 effects the backward and forward movement of the bar 60. v I

In Figs. 14 and 21 is shown a modified form of the device described in reference to Figs. 12

and 13.

As in the last described embodiment the combined needle-guide and strip-guide 11 is recessed to form a transverse slideway which receives a slide-bar 69 connected to actuating mechanism not'shown but which is similar to that described in reference to Figs. 8 to 11. is formed with oblique slots one of which is indicated at I92 and is reciprocated transversely of the said guide 11.

A transverse clamping bar 10, placed in sliding engagement with one side of the slide bar 59,

is provided with carrier lugs I85 adapted to engage the oblique slots I92 and impart movement to the clamping bar." at right angles to the needle guide 11. An auxiliary strip guide 59, associated with the curved face of theguide I1,

has a transverse cutting edge 95a thereof aligned with the said clamping bar so that the lower descending edge of the latter member willclamp the strip against the auxiliary strip guide adjacent the transverse edge thereof. The strip guide 58 is also provided with a further guiding extension 58a. c

A cutting blade 61 is mounted on another slide bar 58 parallel to and closelyadJacent the clamping bar 10 and is adapted to perform a reciprocatory transverse cutting movement along the cutting edge 55a of the auxiliary strip guide 59. A strip-feeding blade 51 is adapted to pass between the guides 11 and 58 as above described.

The operation of the cutting blade 51 is effected in precisely similar manner to that numbered 53 shown and described with reference to Figs. 8-11,

i struction connected at its upper end to one arm of a bell crank lever I95 by a lost-motionconnection I96, the other arm of the bell crank lever I95 being linked by the rod I91 to the slide bar 59. I

The arrangement operates as follows: upon the timed operation of the cam mechanism 93, I05

and W511 the rod la is caused to be drawn downwardly, at the same time as the cutting blade 91 commences to traverse the guide block 11. This downward movement of the rod IIIa The slide bar 99 movement.

allows the bell crank lever I95 to rock under the action 'of the spring I98, and thus to effect the movement of the slide bar 59 which, in turn, causes the clamping of the backing material. The slow connection allows the rod I IIa to complete its downward movement under the control of the cam mechanism 99, I05 and finally return and in .its last stage of movement to rock the bell crank I95 and thus lift the clamping bar 10.

In operation of the last described embodiment of the invention, the backing material such as gauze, tapes or banding is fed between the guide members 11 and 58 and so positioned to receive and be' stitched to the sections or signatures of a book.

when the last signature of a book is stitched, transverse movement isimparted to the slide bar 59 thus causing the clamping bar 10 to descend andhold the backing material 9 firmly against the guide 58 adjacent the cutting edge 65a- The -1 The alternative constructions of the backing strip severing device described in Figs. 12, 13, 14 and may readily be incorporated in the automatically actuated and timed mechanism described in reference to Fig. 8 and it is not considered necessary in reference to these figures to show and describe in detail the actuating and timing mechanism. r i

In the embodiments of the invention described in referenceto Figs. 1 to 11 and 14, 15, the movement of the severing member can be timed to perform either one strip severing operation in each reciprocatory movement or a strip severing operation in each half of each reciprocatory Such alternative operation of the strip severing member is merely a matter of timing the actuating mechanism shown in the drawings.

Moreover, in the embodiments of the invention described in reference to Figs. 1 to 8 and 14 and 15, the severing member could be arranged toperform a working or cutting move ment during each portion of its reciprocatory movement.

It will be obvious that although the backing material is generally described as a strip the width of the strip may equal or even exceed that i of the back of the book-pad.

We claim: 1. A book-binding machine for producing a continuously stitched multi-book block each book I of which has attached thereto at least one backing strip which is free of the adjacent books, comprising means for stitching the books to said backing strip, a severing device comprising a carrier adapted to move transversely of said backing material, a cutting blade mounted on said carrier, slotted guides, means for reciprocating said cutting blade in the slots in said guides,

Ull

backing material, a guide member associated with said severing device and having a transverse cut-. ting edge positioned immediately below said cutting blade, means for automatically controlling -the movement of the said cutting blade, and

means for'feeding the said backing material into position to receive the subsequently stitched book.

3. A book-binding machine for producing a continuously stitched multi-book block each book of which has attached thereto at least one backing strip which is free of the adjacent books, comprising means for stitching the books to said backing strip, a severing device comprising a carrier adapted to move transversely of said backing material, a cutting blade mounted on said carrier, a clamping member associated with said cutting blade, and adapted to move vertically relatively to the backing material, an auxiliary guide member having a transverse edge positioned immediately below the 'said clamping member, means for imparting movement to the said clamping member whereby the backing material is held between the said clamping member and the said auxiliary guide, means for imparting transverse movement to the said cutting blade to contact with and sever the clamped backing material, means for feeding the said backing material into position to receive the subsequent book to be assembled. and means for automatically timing the actuation of the said severing device in accordance with the operation of the said book-binding machine.

4. A book-stitching machine comprising, in combination, a machine frame, a stitcher head mounted on said frame, a backing strip guide associated with said stitcher head, a sheet-carrier adapted to position book-sections beneath said stitcher head, a book-pad slideway to receive said book-sections when stitched, runways to support section blocks placed between the adjacent books of the book-pad, rails mounted transversely above said book-pad slideway, a travelling blade carrier mounted on said rails, a severing blade secured to said blade carrier, means for imparting reciprocatory movement to said blade carrier and said blade, means for registering said blade with said backing strip at the requisite point of severance, and means for automatically timing the actuation of the said severing blade.

5. A book-stitching machine comprising, in combination, a machine frame, stitcher heads mounted on said machine frame, a backing strip guide associated with said stitcher heads, a sheetcarrier adapted to position book sections for stitching beneath said stitcher heads, a book-pad slideway adapted to receive said stitched booksections, means for supplying a continuous strip of backing material to the said book-sections during the stitching thereof, runways to support grooved section blocks interposed between the adjacent books of the stitched book-pad, slidable guide rails mounted transversely above said bookpad slideway, a travelling blade carrier mounted on said slidable guide rails, a severing blade se- 6. A book-stitching machine comprising, in combination, a machine frame, stitcher heads mounted on said machine frame, slotted pivotal arms, a sheet carrier mounted on said arms and adapted toposition book sections for stitching beneath said stitcher heads, means for positioning a continuous backing strip upon said book sections during the stitching thereof, a slideway to receive the progressing book-pad formed by the said book sections when stitched, runways to support grooved section blocks placed between the books of the said book-pad, bracket supports mounted. above said slideway, cradle members actuating mechanism for imparting a'reciprocatory movement to said blade carrier, means for connecting said actuating mechanism to the said sheet-carrier, and means for automatically timing the connection of said actuating mechanism and sheet carrier.

7. In a book-stitching machine as claimed in claim 6 means for actuating the severing device, comprising an arm mounted on a pivotal stubsha'ft and connected to the blade carrier, a second arm mounted on said pivotal shaft and linked to one extremity of a slidable connecting rod having its further extremity U shaped, a shouldered bolt slidably mounted in said U shaped extremity of the connecting rod, a spring anchored to said rod and adapted to urge the said bolt into a slot in one of the sheet carrier arms, a de-coupling memher adapted to remove the said bolt from the slot in thesaid sheet carrier arm, and means for actuating the said de-coupling member in accordance with the progression of the stitched bookpad.

8. A book-stitching machine incorporating automatically actuated means for severing the backing material for a stitched book-pad and including a machine frame, a movable sheet-carrier, a slideway mounted on said frame to support a progressing book-pad, slotted runways positioned above said slideway and adapted to support the extremities of grooved section blocks interposed between the books of the book-pad, a severing blade carrier slidably mounted above said book-pad slideway, an actuating lever connected to said carrier and adapted to impart reciprocatory movement thereto, means for coupling said actuating lever to the said sheetcarrier, a de-coupling member adapted to release the connection between the said sheet carrier and actuating arm, a controlling lever connected to said de-coupling member, a pin carried by said controlling lever and adapted when the mechanism is de-coupled to project through a slot in one of the said runways in the path of the foremost section block carried by the progressing book-pad, means whereby said de-coupling member is withdrawn from its de-coupling position when the pin of the controlling lever is displaced from the path of the foremost section block, pivotal retaining lugs mounted above said runways to engage and temporarily hold against movement the advancing book-pad, means carried by said blade carrier to release said book-pad from said retaining lugs, and means for re-setting said controlling lever in the de-coupling position.

9. A book-stitching machine comprising means 

